Hair disorders: pseudofolliculitis barbae: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Hair disorders: pseudofolliculitis barbae

Sample item

A man with tightly curled hair has recurrent inflamed papules and pustules in the beard area after close shaving, with curved hairs re-entering the skin. What is the best advice?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Avoid close shaving, allow the beard to grow, or use a razor guard or laser hair removal

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a foreign-body inflammatory reaction to curved shaved hairs that re-penetrate the skin, common in men with curly hair. Management is to avoid close shaving, release ingrown hairs, use a guard and consider laser hair reduction. Topical retinoids and eflornithine can help.

Option by option

  • A. Start long-term oral antibiotics only

    Antibiotics alone do not address the mechanism.

  • B. Start oral terbinafine

    Terbinafine would not treat a non-fungal condition.

  • C. Avoid close shaving, allow the beard to grow, or use a razor guard or laser hair removal (correct)

    Correct. Avoiding close shaving or reducing the hair is the main strategy.

  • D. Pluck all hairs every day

    Plucking worsens inflammation and ingrown hairs.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, Avoid close shaving, allow the beard to grow, or use a razor guard or laser hair removal. Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a foreign-body inflammatory reaction to curved shaved hairs that re-penetrate the skin, common in men with curly hair.

Why is "Start long-term oral antibiotics only" not the answer?

Antibiotics alone do not address the mechanism.

Why is "Start oral terbinafine" not the answer?

Terbinafine would not treat a non-fungal condition.

Why is "Pluck all hairs every day" not the answer?

Plucking worsens inflammation and ingrown hairs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hair disorders: pseudofolliculitis barbae in Dermatology. Management is to avoid close shaving, release ingrown hairs, use a guard and consider laser hair reduction. Topical retinoids and eflornithine can help.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Hair disorders: pseudofolliculitis barbae?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.